Placket utility loop

ABSTRACT

A utility placket for use on a garment to be worn on the body of a person, comprising a button strip, having at least one button fixed thereon, a button-hole strip, having at least one button-hole positioned to receive the button, and at least one loop fixed to the button strip or button-hole strip, the loop being adapted for holding an item, such as a writing instrument, spectacles or sunglasses, and positioned so that the loop is hidden when not in use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a placket utility loop and, more particularly,to a placket utility loop fixed to the button strip of a garment worn onthe upper body of a person. The loop is adapted to hold an item, such asa writing instrument, a pair of spectacles or a pair of sunglasses, andis positioned on the button-strip so that the loop is hidden by thegarment's button-hole strip when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Designs showing utility loops or strips for shirts are known. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 2,011,325 to Rowan shows a loop for holding anecktie in place over a shirt front, wherein the loop is fixed to theunder side of the button-hole flap of the shirt. In use, the loop ispulled through a button-hole and a necktie is placed through it and heldin place. U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,377 to Ferdi shows a horizontallyextending strip of fabric that is sewn at both ends to the shirt so thata space is formed between the fabric strip and the shirt itself toreceive the arm of a pair of eyeglasses. U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,928 toHyung-Seob shows a vertical loop attached to the bottom of a buttonholestrip of a shirt. The loop in Hyung-Seob is not concealable. Hyung-Seobalso shows a vertical hole formed by sewing part of the lower ends ofthe button and buttonhole strips together. An arm of one's spectaclesmay be inserted into the vertical hole to hang a pair of spectacles onthe shirt.

None of the known designs or methods, however, solve the problem ofproviding a garment with a utility loop for hanging items, such as pens,pencils, spectacles or sunglasses, wherein the utility loop ispositioned to be convenient and comfortable when in use, and concealedwhen not in use. In each of the prior art inventions, the utility loopbecomes an aspect of the overall appearance of the garment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a placketutility loop which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention can be attained and the disadvantages of theprior art utility loops can be overcome by providing a utility placketfor use on a garment to be worn on the body of a person, comprising abutton strip, having at least one button fixed thereon, a button-holestrip, having at least one button-hole positioned to receive at leastone button, and at least one loop fixed to the button strip orbutton-hole strip, the loop being adapted for holding an item, andpositioned so that the loop can be hidden by the button-hole strip orbutton strip when not in use. The garment is preferably a standard golfor polo shirt, wherein the button and button-hole strips have more thanone button and span a portion of the length of the shirt. The garmentcan also be a dress shirt, wherein the button and button-hole stripsextend the entire length of the shirt. The garment may also be pants ora skirt, wherein a placket having a loop is located on the waistband.The garment and loop can be made of the same material used for themanufacture of garments, such as, cotton, polyester, silk or any othersuitable material. The loop may also be elastic so that it closes tightaround an article inserted therein.

The loop is designed so that items such as a writing instrument (e.g., apen or pencil), spectacles or sunglasses may hang from the loop. Thelength of the loop is preferably smaller than the width of the buttonand button-hole strips and also preferably small enough so that a pen orpencil does not slide through the loop. The length of the loop can be inthe range of {fraction (1/16)} to 1 ½ inches, but is preferably ⅝inches.

The loop can be fixed at any point along the length of the button stripor button hole strip that would be convenient and comfortable whencarrying an item. Both ends of the loop are preferably fixed to the edgeof a button strip, where the button strip contacts the garment, that is,along the seam of the button strip at the time the strip is sewn to thebody of the garment. The ends of the loop preferably are placed on thesurface of or folded under the button strip such that the top of theloop is facing away from the edge of the button strip which will beattached to the garment, and stitched into place. The loop also may befixed near the edge of the button strip contacting the garment,preferably {fraction (1/16)} to ¾ inches inward of that edge. The loopmay remain hidden under the button-hole strip when not in use, and maybe folded out from under the button-hole strip to receive and hang anitem therefrom. The loop also may be fixed to the edge of the buttonstrip at one end only, and may include a fastening device for openingand closing the loop to receive and hold ring-like items, such as keyrings. Multiple loops also may be positioned on the button strip toallow for carrying of more than one item at a time.

The loop also may be attached to the button-hole strip. Preferably, theedges of the loop are attached to the underside of the button-hole stripat the edge of the button-hole strip not attached to the garment, withthe top of the loop facing the point of contact between the garment andbutton-hole strip.

The invention also relates to a method for holding an item with aplacket utility loop, comprising fixing the loop to a button strip orbutton-hole strip of a garment, positioning the loop so that the loop isconcealed by a button-hole strip of the garment when not in use, andfolding the loop from under the button-hole strip to receive and hangthe item therefrom. The method further comprises fixing both ends of theloop to an edge of the button strip or button-hole strip which contactsthe garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreview of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments,taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a garment including a placket utility loop accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a button strip including a placket utility loopaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of placket utility loops partially hidden under abutton-hole strip according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of a button strip including a placket utility loopaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of a button strip including more than one placketutility loop according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of a button strip including a placket utility loopaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of a button strip wherein an article is hanging from aplacket utility loop according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a view of a button strip including a placket utility loopaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, a garment 10 includes a placket consisting of abutton-hole strip 11 and a button strip 12. The button strip 12 has autility loop 13 affixed thereto. The garment 10 is preferably a golf orpolo shirt, wherein the lengths of the button-hole and button strips 11,12 are less than ½ of the length of the shirt. The garment 10 also maybe a dress shirt, wherein the button-hole and button strips 11, 12extend the entire length of the shirt 10. The garment 10 may bemanufactured from cotton, polyester, silk or some other suitablematerial for the manufacture of garments.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the button-strip 12 includes buttons 14 which arereceived by button-holes 15 to close the button-hole strip 11 over thebutton strip 12. In addition to standard definitions, the word “button”may refer to a snap, magnetic closing device, hook, Velcro® or othersuitable attachment device used to close the placket of a shirt and theword “button-hole” may refer to the corresponding receptor device. Thebutton-hole and button-hole strips 11, 12 are preferably 1 ½ incheswide, but may be larger or smaller.

As shown in FIG. 3, a utility loop 13 is fixed (e.g., by sewing) to theedge of button strip 12 which contacts the garment 10. As shown in FIG.2, both ends of the utility loop 13 may be placed under the button strip12 and sewn to the garment 10 together with the button strip 12. Loop 13is then folded against the surface of button strip 12 and stitched intoplace along the edge of the button strip 12 which contacts garment 10.As shown in FIG. 3, utility loop 13 can also be sewn onto the undersideof button-hole strip 11, either at the vertical side contacting thegarment or the opposite vertical side. As shown in FIG. 4, a utilityloop 16 may be fixed to the button-strip {fraction (1/16)} to ¾ inchesinward from that edge. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the utility loop 13may be concealed by the button-hole strip 11.

The utility loop 13 may be {fraction (1/16)} to 1 ½ inches long, but ispreferably ⅝ inches long. The utility loop 13 is preferably positionednear the bottom of the button strip 12, but, as shown in FIG. 5, autility loop 17 may be positioned anywhere along the length of thebutton strip 12. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, more than one utilityloop 13, 17 may be fixed to the button-strip 12 at one time. Positioningand number of utility loops may be dictated by comfort and convenienceof hanging articles, such as a writing instrument, spectacles orsunglasses. The loops 13, 16, 17 are preferably made from the samematerial as the garment 10, but may be manufactured from any materialsuitable for use in garments. As shown in FIGS. 6-7, when in use, autility loop 13 may be folded back to a position where it can receive,for example, the arm 18 of a pair of eyeglasses 19, and suspend thearticle. As shown in FIG. 8, a loop 20 may be fastened to the buttonstrip 12 at one end and opened and closed with a fastening device 21,such as a snap or magnetic closure, so that items such as key rings maybe held by the loop 20.

While this invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments, this invention, including this disclosure and appendedclaims, is not so limited and is to be construed in accordance with thefull spirit and scope of the invention including alternatives andmodifications made apparent to those of skill in the art:

1. A utility placket for use on a garment to be worn on the body of aperson, comprising: a button strip, having at least one button fixedthereon; a button-hole strip, having at least one button-hole positionedto receive said button; and at least one loop fixed to said button stripor said button-hole strip, said loop being adapted for holding an itemand positioned so that said loop is hidden when not in use.
 2. Theutility placket as recited in claim 1, wherein the item is one of awriting instrument, spectacles, sunglasses and a key ring.
 3. Theutility placket as recited in claim 1, wherein both ends of said loopare fixed to an edge of said button strip which contacts said garment.4. The utility placket as recited in claim 1, wherein said loop is fixedat a distance of {fraction (1/16)} to {fraction (3/4)} inches from theedge of the button strip or button-hole strip which contacts saidgarment.
 5. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein said loop isfixed at any location along the length of the button strip orbutton-hole strip.
 6. The utility placket as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid loop is fixed to the button strip or button-hole strip by sewingboth ends of said loop along a seam in the garment formed by attachmentof the button strip or button-hole strip to the garment.
 7. The utilityplacket as recited in claim 1, wherein said loop is fixed to theunderside of the button-hole strip by sewing both ends of said loopalong the edge of said button-hole strip which is not attached to thegarment.
 8. The utility placket as recited in claim 1, wherein thelength of said loop is less than the individual widths of the buttonstrip or button-hole strip.
 9. The utility placket as recited in claim7, wherein the length of said loop is in the range of {fraction (1/16)}to 1 ½ inches.
 10. The utility placket as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid loop is folded from under the button-hole strip or button strip toreceive and hang the item therefrom.
 11. The utility placket as recitedin claim 1, wherein said loop includes a fastening device for openingand closing the loop.
 12. A method for holding an item with a placketutility loop, comprising: fixing at least one loop to a button strip orbutton-hole strip of a garment; positioning the loop so that the loop isconcealed when not in use; and folding the loop from under thebutton-hole strip or button strip to receive and hang the itemtherefrom.
 13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprisingfixing both ends of the loop to an edge of the button strip whichcontacts the garment.
 14. A method of producing a garment having autility placket, comprising: folding both ends of a utility loop under abutton strip of the garment; and stitching the utility loop to thegarment simultaneously with the button strip.
 15. The method as recitedin claim 14, further comprising stitching the ends of the utility loopalong a seam formed by attachment of the button strip or button-holestrip to the garment.
 16. A method of producing a garment having autility placket, comprising: folding both ends of a utility loop on theunderside of a button-hole strip at the edge not contacting saidgarment; and stitching said ends of the utility loop to said edge ofsaid button-hole strip.
 17. A method of producing a garment having autility placket, comprising: laying both ends of a utility loop on abutton strip; and stitching the ends of the utility loop to the buttonstrip while simultaneously stitching said button strip to the garment.18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the ends of the utilityloop are stitched to the button strip or button-hole strip along a seamformed by attachment of said button strip or button-hole strip to thegarment.
 19. A method of producing a garment having a utility placket,comprising: laying both ends of a utility loop on a button strip orbutton-hole strip; and stitching the ends of the utility loop to saidbutton strip or button-hole strip.
 20. The method as recited in claim19, wherein the ends of the utility loop are stitched to the buttonstrip or button-hole strip along a seam in the garment formed byattachment of said button strip or button-hole strip to the garment. 21.The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the ends of the utility loopare stitched to the button strip or button-hole strip at a distance of{fraction (1/16)} to ¾ inches from an edge of said button strip orbutton-hole strip which contacts the garment.